A renewed partnership between Prairie Heights Elementary School's Parent Teacher Organization and the Alta Vista Senior Center brought holiday cheer to 75 students this season through a free holiday shop that allowed children to select gifts for their family members. The collaboration, spearheaded by Prairie Heights PTO members alongside Pam McDiffett, director of the Alta Vista Senior Center, revived a tradition from years past with an expanded vision. While the Senior Center had previously offered a similar program where students could choose one or two gifts, this year's initiative provided students with the opportunity to shop from a wide assortment of donated items.
"When I invited Pam to join our building site council, we discovered we both had this idea on our list," said Principal Angela Harris. "It was wonderful to see how our shared vision came together to benefit our students and strengthen community connections."
Through generous community donations, the holiday shop featured an impressive variety of new and like-new items including tool sets, stuffed animals, hats, candles, kitchenware, home decor, toys, and other gifts suitable for all ages. Wrapping paper and bags were also donated to complete the gift-giving experience. The event drew support from across the community. Members of the Alta Vista Senior Center board, county commissioners, and local law enforcement volunteers wrapped gifts to ensure each student's selections were ready to present to their loved ones. This partnership exemplifies the spirit of community cooperation, bringing together schools, seniors, civic leaders, and law enforcement to create meaningful experiences for Prairie Heights students and their families.